Most deer hunters wouldn’t normally consider a medium-size 6-point whitetail significant enough to hang on the wall. But an Arkansas man who battled the attacking animal while armed only with a hunting knife last weekend believes his black-and-blue body was battered enough to qualify the 160-pound buck as a “bruiser.”

Greg Vincent of Trumann, AR, was hunting with his family during the state’s youth deer hunt Saturday when his 13-year-old son shot a spike deer. Together with his son and nephew, the three were blood-trailing the animal when they came upon a 6-point standing about 15 yards from them.

“We had gone about 50 yards when we ran on the buck, which was just standing there,” Vincent told the Jonesboro Sun newspaper. “We had left our guns at the camp, and all I had was a hunting knife.” Instead of fleeing, the young buck lowered its head, raked its front hoof and headed toward the trio.

Vincent quickly leapt between the boys and the deer, grabbing its antlers and stabbing it once in the ribs. Still clinging to the 6-point rack, Vincent was bowled over backwards and the two combatants tumbled into a creek.

In the struggle, the knife flew from Vincent’s hands, and one of the boys jumped to retrieve it.

“When I stabbed the neck, I pulled the knife as hard as I could,” Vincent said.

As the deer lay mortally wounded, Greg’s father, Harvey Vincent, arrived with a rifle and shot it.

Because only youngsters were allowed to hunt during the special season, the Vincents reported the incident to state wildlife authorities. As a result of the unusual circumstances, the local warden said the family could keep the animal.

“He told me I could consider it a free deer, one that I killed with a knife,” Vincent said.

The bruised and battered Vincent said the memorable 6-pointer was a nice enough deer—but it was anything but free.

“I’m paying for it today,” he told newspaper two days after the encounter. “My body is sore all over—the inside of my legs and shoulders feel like they have been beaten. Now I know how a bull rider must feel.”